The U.S. is ramping up both arms and training assistance to the Syrian rebels, creating what one official calls the largest covert effort in memory. Advocates of the program say they hope to change the situation on the ground, others doubt it will help much.

President Obama is in Japan for the start of his four-nation Asia visit. The trip aims to assure U.S. allies that they're not forgotten, even as China gets more bullish with its neighbors.

As online and big box stores take up more of the retail landscape, small mom and pop shops are getting more specific. We examine one of the ways small stores are looking to survive and possibly thrive.

Steve Inskeep and David Greene have the Last Word in business.

Wa-Mart stores Inc. is rolling out a new money-transfer service allowing customers to send and receive up to $900 at a time at more than 4,000 stores in the U.S. But analysts don't think the retail giant's move will destroy the other money transfer clients because of their loyal customer base.

On Thursday, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission will float a set of rules aimed at protecting "net neutrality." That's the idea that all traffic on the Internet should be treated equally. But public interest groups say the proposed rules would undermine the open Internet by allowing service providers to create a fast lane where they can charge big companies more.

David Greene has business news.

Sixteen Sherpas died in Nepal last week after an avalanche swept them off the face of the world's highest mountain, Mt. Everest. Now, some are boycotting the climbing season but others say they simply can't because this is their livelihood.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration has announced new regulations reducing the amount of coal dust miners can be exposed to in underground and surface mines.

Hundreds of civilians have been massacred in the South Sudan town of Bentiu. For more, Steve Inskeep talks to Andrew Green, the South Sudan bureau chief for the Voice of America.